Some towns want no more "dollar stores" - Page 4

Cats3000 · ‎10-07-2013

@novamc1 You failed to understand my response. Governments DO establish zones for business. However, I DO NOT believe that, within those business zones, government has the right to say how many of what kinds of businesses can be established. That is a function of the marketplace and shopping patterns. When government begins to make those kinds of decisions, it gets itelf into matters of competition and choice; none of it's business.

software · ‎06-08-2016

I live in an unincorporated area just outside a very poor, minority town.

Living modestly & on a fixed income, I like Dollar General, we call it the Dollar G

Why would I want to walk through a 10,000sf grocery store when I can park at the door and be in & out in a few minutes?

I do buy pickles at the Dollar Tree, even the cheapest pickles at WM are almost $4 for a similar size jar.

A moratorium is too restrictive. If they want to make an ordinance for sidewalks, or lighting or trash collection etc, that's another thing. I am a strong opponent to vaping, cannabis, liquor stores, bingo halls, etc. These fall under the category of vice, something we want, but don't need. They attract crime and me being in a poorer area, the government loves to load us up with plenty of opportunities for vice.

I'm familiar with the area in Atlanta. I agree with @Laura14 There is no reason to restrict dollar type stores other than they think it attracts lower income (trashy, in their mind) people.

novamc1 · ‎07-02-2015

@software

You commented that there is no reason to restrict dollar-type stores........

Here are reasons given in one jurisdiction, and it seems to be encouraged and supported by the local citizens (taxpayers)..........are they wrong or do they have a right to determine things where they live?

<<

“You’ve seen your last dollar store in Stonecrest,” Mayor Jason Lary said. The proposal to ban the stores sprouted from concerns from residents that the businesses do not provide enough fresh food options and give off a bad image, he said. Dollar stores sell discount goods, packaged foods and limited cold or frozen groceries.

Critics like Cochran-Johnson said the stores contribute to food insecurity in “food deserts” where residents have limited access to grocery stores that sell fresh food. Some officials and residents worry dollar stores could discourage larger grocery stores from opening nearby. But it remains to be seen whether halting the growth of dollar stores is the right solution to attract supermarkets to neighborhoods and invigorate local economies.>>

Nonametoday · ‎03-09-2010

@ValuSkr wrote:
It's an interesting article, thank you for posting. Yes, I've heard about the push-back against dollar stores. They do seem to proliferate in rural and low-income communities, One dollar store is nice, but too many are a scourge. However, I wonder about the ability of local governments to regulate them this way. I read recently of a midwestern town that lost its only supermarket when a dollar store opened. The supermarket was locally-owned, employed a number of people, and supported civic organizations like a Little League team. And of course, it had departments like bakery, produce, and deli that a dollar store often doesn't.

I'm not sure, but isn't Dollar General more like a supermarket? It has a weekly circular and it carries groceries and most things are not $1.00. Maybe it doesn't carry perishable items like produce, bakery, and deli.

@ValuSkr That is why I see so many rich women slumming nowadays, they are visiting the dollar stores.

software · ‎06-08-2016

They can state all the "reasons" in the world but in the majority of towns & cities most retail is not restricted, unless they fall under the category of a vice. Let them restrict signage, frontage, trash collection, change zoning, etc etc but to outright ban a type of store is code for "we don't want poor people" in our neighborhood.

I don't have a dog in the fight, I don't live there, never will. But in the spirit of "free market" they shouldn't be restricted. Let the market decide. Dollar General is not going to build if there are no customers.

@novamc1 wrote:
@software

You commented that there is no reason to restrict dollar-type stores........

Here are reasons given in one jurisdiction, and it seems to be encouraged and supported by the local citizens (taxpayers)..........are they wrong or do they have a right to determine things where they live?

<<
“You’ve seen your last dollar store in Stonecrest,” Mayor Jason Lary said. The proposal to ban the stores sprouted from concerns from residents that the businesses do not provide enough fresh food options and give off a bad image, he said. Dollar stores sell discount goods, packaged foods and limited cold or frozen groceries.

Critics like Cochran-Johnson said the stores contribute to food insecurity in “food deserts” where residents have limited access to grocery stores that sell fresh food. Some officials and residents worry dollar stores could discourage larger grocery stores from opening nearby. But it remains to be seen whether halting the growth of dollar stores is the right solution to attract supermarkets to neighborhoods and invigorate local economies.>>

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

@software I wouldn't call Dollar General a "dollar store." It's a supermarket in most senses of the word. I don't think anyone objects to their proliferation - if in fact they are proliferating, and I don't think they are.

It's the true dollar stores that concern leaders in rural and low-income communities. They don't want to eradicate them; they just want to avoid driving out legitimate supermarkets. How they do that can be debated, but I think most will agree it's a reasonable objective.

esmerelda · ‎03-10-2010

@ValuSkr wrote:
It's an interesting article, thank you for posting. Yes, I've heard about the push-back against dollar stores. They do seem to proliferate in rural and low-income communities, One dollar store is nice, but too many are a scourge. However, I wonder about the ability of local governments to regulate them this way. I read recently of a midwestern town that lost its only supermarket when a dollar store opened. The supermarket was locally-owned, employed a number of people, and supported civic organizations like a Little League team. And of course, it had departments like bakery, produce, and deli that a dollar store often doesn't.

I'm not sure, but isn't Dollar General more like a supermarket? It has a weekly circular and it carries groceries and most things are not $1.00. Maybe it doesn't carry perishable items like produce, bakery, and deli.

It’s hard for me to believe a dollar store caused a grocery store to close. Since it was family owned, there may have been reasons other than economic that that happened.

There is one grocery store here...part of a national chain...and two “dollar stores” across the highway. There is another “dollar store” within a 5-minute drive of the others. No sign any are suffering.

I think t’s helpful when dollar stores are located near each other for customers who are within walking distance or who use public transportation.

*********************
Keepin' it real.

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

Normally I am against big government but in many depressed areas these stores root out valuable businesses like grocery stores and pharmacies, making areas where people have a hard time getting food and other needed items.

And when you think about it, it is basically a monopoly that keeps an area from diversifying and having more types of stores. It can be very harmful to people in need living nearby.

Laura14 · ‎06-09-2014

In response to people making their own decisions where they live, I know some people don't want lower income or working class in the midst of their upper income neighborhoods but we do live here too and our opinion should matter on what we actually need access to not just what someone else wants our neighborhood access to be. Not all of us can shop Whole Foods on a regular basis.

Denying alternatives, pushes "undesirables" aka people and/or property out of the way to be someone's else's problem or concern. That's wrong in my opinion and shouldn't be allowed.

I've never seen an upper income neighborhood (and I am in yuppie central in my neck of the woods) with a general store outside the main entry way. Most of the stores they fight so hard against they can't even see from their front porch and are more than around the corner. They are down around several corners and should be left alone to service those people who choose to patronize them.